Grab your sweetie and escape to the wild, rustic and romantic setting of the serpentine-like Lake of the Ozarks, home to more than 1,000 miles of shoreline and a main channel that flows for nearly 100 miles. Located in the Missouri region of the Ozarks, and surrounded by dense forests and soft rolling hills, the winding lake is lined with array of cozy lodging options. The region caters to a variety of romantic sensibilities, including hotels providing everything from casual to opulent settings.

Sunrise, Sunset

The small town of Sunrise Beach is home to a variety of hotels, including Lone Oak Point Resort. Embark on a romantic stroll through the 8-acre wooded region on the tip of a peninsula. The waterfront hotel provides an array of activities, including sundecks for lounging and three lakeside docks for a leisurely afternoon of swimming and fishing. Some guest rooms include balconies with lake and forest views. You can also rent pontoons nearby and enjoy a day on the lake with your sweetie. Book a two-person cottage at Lakeview Resort, where you can cuddle by the wood-burning or electric fireplace, unwind on your private lakeside deck or take a soak in a whirlpool tub. Use the boat launch ramp for a romantic trip on the lake, stroll down the pebble beach or amble along the waterfront boardwalk. In the evening, you can snuggle by the resort’s campfire.

Over in Osage

The town of Osage Beach is just southeast of Sunrise Beach and home to such hotels as Inn at Grand Glaize and Summerset Inn Resort and Villas. Tucked away in a lakeside cove, Grand Glaize provides guest rooms with whirlpool tubs and large balconies with sweeping vistas of the water. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, the hotel’s restaurant, J.D. Waddles Restaurant and Lounge, has an outdoor lakefront patio for dining. Book a romantic package and you’ll receive chocolate-covered strawberries, wine, breakfast for two and a late checkout. While staying at Summerset Inn Resort and Villas, you can prepare a meal for two using your in-room kitchenette and wet bar. Afterward, unwind by the fireplace or take a soak in your whirlpool tub. Head to nearby Circle R Stables and enjoy a romantic horseback ride along scenic rustic trails.

Northward Bound

Make your way to Lake Ozark, a town on one of the lake’s northernmost points. Book a romantic couples’ package at the upscale Lodge of Four Seasons and you’ll receive such perks as champagne and chocolates at turn-down, late checkout privileges and gift certificates to the on-site spa and HK’s, the resort’s high-end restaurant with views of the lake and Japanese gardens. Plan a date night without ever leaving the premises, including a bike ride through the grounds and a movie at the 250-seat theater. The romance package at Country Club Hotel and Spa includes suite accommodations, champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries on arrival, in-room breakfast and dinner for two at the Country Club Restaurant and Lounge. Listen to live music with your honey while sipping on a glass of wine poolside during Rafferty’s happy hour sessions.

Park Place

You’ll also find a host of romantic accommodations near Lake of the Ozarks State Park, where you can embark on 12 miles of wooded hiking trails and lantern-led journeys through caverns. Enjoy a laid-back afternoon with your honey at the sprawling Resort at Port Arrowhead by playing a game of miniature golf or taking a dip in the two garden-set swimming pools. Indulge in a candlelit dinner on the outdoor patio at the hotel’s own Port Side Restaurant before retreating back to your room for a soak in your whirlpool tub. Lined with columns and topped with a turret, the Victorian-inspired Osage Village Inn creates a romantic vibe. Public spaces provide a cozy atmosphere as well, including a lobby with a fireplace and fountain. Reserve the honeymoon suite equipped with an in-room whirlpool tub adorned with Corinthian columns.

Resources

About the Author

A travel writer since 2002, Leah Rendon has written countless articles for online pop-culture magazines and various travel-related websites, including Eurobooking and World66. Gosford also has experience in copywriting, having developed a series of articles related to network marketing. She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in theater arts.